Jan 082015
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Friday started hearings on petitions for fare reductions for buses and taxis.
Photos tweeted by the office of LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez showed the hearing started at about 9 a.m.
Ginez led the hearing, which was also attended by stakeholders.
Earlier, the LTFRB scheduled for Friday the hearing of petitions for lower fares on taxis, buses and Utility Vehicles (UV) nationwide.
Former LTFRB board member and Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway had filed a petition to cut the flagdown rate of taxis to P30 from the current P40 and to decrease by P1 the additional P3.50 charge for every 300 meters covered.
Iway also asked the LTFRB to reduce the minimum bus fare to P8 from the current P10 and the additional charge for the succeeding kilometers to be lowered as well.
He cited the lower prices of fuel in seeking the fare reduction.
Before this, the LTFRB on Dec. 11 ordered a P1 rollback on the minimum jeepney fare in Metro Manila.
A report on 24 Oras quoted Philippine National Taxi Operators Association president Bong Suntay as saying the petition calling for lower flag-down rate was “unfair.” —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News
